M+A Edit

Whether you're gearing up for another chilly winter weekend spent indoors (March, where are you?) or you're just looking for a fresh activity to do with your little, we've got a quick and easy craft that comes with guaranteed smiles. Inspired by one of our latest prints—Game, Set, Match—Katie Baumgartner of Make to Celebrate is sharing a fun way to make abstract art with your little using tennis balls. You'll need: A box (or ridged baking sheet) Kid-friendly paint 1 or 2 tennis balls (marbles work, too) Instructions: Place a...

There's denying that pregnancy is a whirlwind—but postpartum recovery can throw you for just as big of a loop. And while there are apps and frequent doctors appointments to help you through all the body changes that happen during pregnancy, transitioning into your post-baby body can be full of surprises—and a few weird symptoms. While you should always, always check in with your doc if you've got questions, here's a peek at what a number of women experience in the first few weeks after heading home from the hospital. Feeling...

Most babies make it easy on you—they’ll fuss when they’re uncomfortable, says Payal Adhikari, MD, a pediatrician with Child & Adolescent Health Associates in Chicago. It’s normal for your baby's hands and feet to feel a little cold (or even look slightly purple those first few weeks of life as their circulation adjusts to working on its own) but the core of baby’s body (her stomach and back) should feel warm like yours does—not super hot or frigid cold. So what does that mean when it comes to getting dressed?...

Curious about what superfoods can do for you and your bump? Guest blogger Carla Jian, a personal trainer and holistic health coach based on Chicago, dishes on the best foods for a healthy baby and happy mama during pregnancy. When I was first became pregnant, all the restrictions that came with a prenatal diet felt a little overwhelming—and a little scary. All of a sudden there was a list of foods I wasn’t allowed to eat because they could harm my baby. Then I was warned that since I was...

Gearing up to give your little their first bite of real (pureed) food—or running into questions as you transition into bigger bites? Consider this your ultimate cheat sheet. Our go-to pediatrician Payal Adhikari, MD, with Child and Adolescent Health Associates in Chicago, is sharing her ten best tips for teaching your baby the art of a good chow. 4-6 months is a good time to start solids “I like to start closer to six months, or when your baby shows an interest in food and has good head and trunk...

Any mom will tell you—even if you read all the baby books and take all the classes, the journey through new parenthood is an on-the-fly, messy, trial and error experience. And the best info doesn't usually come through google—it comes from your mom friends. Which is why we asked ours—what do you wish you had known before leaving the hospital for the first time? (We could have written a book—but picked our ten favorite real-talk tips to start.) If you are a seasoned mama, let us know what you'd add!...

It’s reason number 999 babies are as fascinating as they are cute: your little starts to absorb language while he’s still swimming around in the womb. And then every interaction from day one is a chance for baby to build their speech (not that you need to start flashcard drills with your newborn– your warm and happy coos work wonders in the early days.) “Your baby might not understand the semantic meaning of what you’re saying, but he or she can feel the loving meanings of your voice tones,” says...

For those accustomed to tracking their steps and sleep with the swipe of a finger, it would make sense that pulling up data about our ovaries should be just as easy. A number of startups and drug developers think so—as more women put off having a baby (or another baby) until their late 30’s and 40’s, at-home fertility tests (a relatively cheap and easy way to ease that biological clock panic—or trigger it) are popping up. But do they work? Is it possible to tell how fertile you are before...

There’s really only one thing you can bet on when it comes to delivering a baby—unpredictability! Babies tend to arrive on their own schedule, in their own way. But there are lots of choices to be made in the delivery room, and before the action starts, it’s helpful to write down your preferences and hopes in a “birth plan.” (Because hey—even if that all natural water birth doesn’t go as planned, you’ve still got control over the music.) To get started, create a bulleted list answering these questions: Who should...

Compiling a baby registry—and figuring out how to dress your bump—can feel like learning a different language. As you sift through a sea of recommendations from friends and family, don't miss these six Monica + Andy mom-approved brands designed to make the mama life a little easier. From a stylish swing made to soothe the fussiest of babies to clothing brands that will live in your closet for longer than a trimester, you won't want to miss out. For Moms... 1. Hatch These effortlessly-chic maternity clothes made by a mom-of-two...